Former Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby coach Peter Russell has been snubbed again.
Russell, who missed out on the Hurricanes head coach role earlier this year, was yesterday told he wasn't wanted for the Wellington Lions head coach role. This year's Lions back coach and former Samoan first five-eighth Earl Va'a got the job.
"I am surprised by the decision. I haven't got a back-up plan so I will enjoy the festive season with family and through my agent I will look for other opportunities early next year," Russell said last night.
Russell has been home in Hawke's Bay since May after a two-season stint as the Newcastle Falcons head coach in the United Kingdom. A three-time Hawke's Bay coach-of-the-year award winner, Russell coached the Magpies for five seasons from 2007 to 2011 before his surprise axing in October 2011.
With former Manu Samoa assistant coach and Hawke's Bay's 2012 coach of the year award winner and current Chiefs assistant coach Tom Coventry, Russell, guided the Magpies to three consecutive semifinal finishes in the old Air New Zealand Cup from 2007-09, a disappointing eighth finish in the 2010 ITM Cup and to victory in the 2011 ITM Cup Championship final.
